Dragon Warrior Cryptomeria
Cryptomeria japonica ‘sPg-3-005‘
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Evergreen Conifer
Height at Maturity: 4′ after 10 years
Width at Maturity: 2.5-3′ after 10 years
Spacing: 4’+ for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Dense, Rounded Cone
Growth Rate: Slow, 4 to 6″ per year
Flower Color: None
Flower Size: NA
Flowering Period: NA
Flower Type: NA
Fragrant Flowers: NA
Foliage Color: Dark Green turning to almost Black in winter. New growth is Bright Green
Fragrant Foliage: Yes
Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, Morning Shade with Evening Sun; Filtered Sun or Shade in the mid afternoon in Zones 8b to 9
Water Needs: Average, Low when established
Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sand, Silt
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist or Damp But Well Drained; avoid constantly soggy soil!
Soil pH: 5.0 – 7.0 ( Acid to Neutral)
Maintenance / Care: Low
Attracts: Visual Attention
Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought, Dry Soil, Heat, Insect, Rabbit
Description
Discovered in North Carolina as a branch sport from the highly-regarded ‘Black Dragon’ Cryptomeria, ‘Dragon Warrior’ displays the same green-black foliage as its parent but in a smaller rounded pyramid form with tighter foliage. The slightly-twisted sprays of new growth emerge bright green in spring maturing to a darker green in summer and then to deep green-black during winter. Attractive peeling red bark adds additional interest. At maybe 4 feet tall and 30 inches wide in 10 years, this unique cultivar is a very interesting specimen in smaller garden spaces, pots, or for bonsai.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing in a rounded pyramidal to about 4 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide at maturity, the Dragon Warrior Cryptomeria is ideal for use as a specimen in small garden spaces, rock gardens and home foundation plantings. Plant one on each sides of the front door or steps or the entrance to a walkway to accentuate these entryways. Also makes a very nice solo or centerpiece in containers of 14 inches or more in diameter. A fine addition to conifer gardens, Asian theme gardens, and rock gardens.
Suggested Spacing: 4 feet or more apart for space between plants
Growing Preferences
Dragon Warrior Cryptomeria is very easy to grow in most any average, moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and full sun to part shade. Some shade or filtered sun in the afternoon is appreciated in USDA Zones 8b to 9. Prefers not to dry out when young however is quite drought tolerant when established. It does not like a constantly soggy or waterlogged soil so provide just enough water to maintain a damp to lightly moist soil until established. We’ve seen no serious disease or insect problems and the deer that visit our gardens won’t touch it. Can be pruned for size control or shaping purposes though we never touch ours.
Plant Long & Prosper!
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